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Coin News for March 4, 2010
The $50 Question: Grant or Reagan?
CNN
Should Ulysses S. Grant, the legendary Union general and 18th president of the United States, be bumped from his 96-year stint on the $50 bill? Yes, according to one North Carolina Republican. Rep. Patrick McHenry announced that he will introduce a measure that would replace Grant’s face with Ronald Reagan’s, just in time for the 40th president’s 100th birthday next February.
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John Haberle: American Master of Illusion
Antiques and the Arts Online
It was “U.S.A. (The Chicago Bill Picture),” circa 1889, showing a worn $1 bill atop a tattered $10 note, a one-cent stamp, a piece of tape and a newspaper clipping praising “Imitation” that caused the uproar that brought Haberle to national attention. While “U.S.A.” was on display at the Art Institute of Chicago in 1889, a local newspaper critic accused Harberle of perpetuating a fraud by pasting real currency and stamps onto his canvas. Incensed, the artist traveled to Chicago to confront the writer. Using a magnifying glass and paint remover, experts proved the image was indeed fully painted. Within days, the critic retracted his charge, calling the canvas a “true work of imitative art.”
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Highest Graded 1872-CC $20
NGC
Carson City Double Eagles are compelling coins. They combine their historical intrigue as coins of the pioneer West with their significant scarcity. The 1872-CC is the third $20 gold piece issue from the Carson City Mint. Since the 1870-CC is a major rarity and the 1871-CC is very elusive in all grades, the 1872-CC is, in contrast, considered to be “available” to collectors. Virtually all of the 26,900 struck likely entered circulation, and certainly fewer than 20 uncirculated examples survive. Most 1872-CC double eagles show heavy bag marks; those that are spared heavy wear can exhibit a pleasing strike, however this example is particularly sharp and crisp. How this coin survived the rough handling that is typical of the issue is not known.
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Certificates Part of Cometallic Proposal
Numismaster
I was intrigued by an 1885 proposal I ran into by Nicholas Veeder describing a new coin and paper money system he envisioned called “cometallism.” In a lengthy paper, titled Cometallism: Gold and Silver Coinage, Uniting and Blending their Values in Paper Money, and for Establishing a Composite Single Standard Dollar of Account, written after the beginning of the Free Silver agitation and during the period of falling silver values, Veeder looked to address the problem of a lower value metal driving the higher value metal from circulation and the complaints associated with a depreciated currency.
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Cleaning Coins Removes Both Dirt and Value
Nevada Appeal
If you want some good advise, “Don’t clean your coins” is just that. Does this mean that coins should never be cleaned? No, but usually cleaning your coins removes not only dirt, but also value. There are really only two ways to clean coins, abrasives or solvents. An abrasive will leave tell tale signs that a coin has been polished or cleaned. From harsh abrasives such as Brillo pads to mild ones such as tooth paste or silver polish both change the surface of a coin forever by putting lines in the metals surface.
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September 11 Commemorative Medals Proposed
Coin Update News
Bills have recently been introduced in the House and Senate which seek one ounce silver medals struck in commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and the establishment of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum at the World Trade Center. H.R. 4684 was introduced in the House of Representatives on February 24, 2010 by Jerrold Nadler of New York. A companion bill S. 3034 was introduced in the Senate on the same date by Charles Schumer of New York. There are 54 cosponsors for the House version of the bill.
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About the Author
Tim Shuck is a life-long Midwestern resident, and started collecting coins after finding an Indian Head cent on the ground at his childhood farm home. Additional encouragement came from looking through a collection of well-worn late 19th and early 20th century coins kept by his grandfather in an old leather coin purse. Current collecting interests include U.S. types from the Civil War era through the early 1930's, and Colonial and Early American coins.
